I have deep respect for the integrity of that interviewer, who saw the situation for what it was and denied the man a podium for such spiteful remarks.

The article did mention them as “registered”, so I don’t think this applies.

I’m wondering if it’s tied to how status symbols differ per culture. Its been 20 years, but I don’t remember status symbols mattering much to my environment when I was a teenager in the Netherlands. I wonder how that is now.